It is stinking hot here, and as Lara missed her promised swimming trip on Sunday, and again on Monday due to Mac’s trip to the vet, I was under pressure today to deliver. Fortunately, the Dutch have a very relaxed attitude to health, safety and general hygiene, and operate permanent giant paddling pools in many of the parks from May to September. These are remarkably clean and well-looked after and very pleasant places to while away a morning (the afternoons are usually super-hot and very packed).
So Mac went off for his walk with Outlet this morning, and Lara and I set off for the Vondelpark pool. We grabbed a spot in the shade, had a quick play in the sand-pit, and then stripped down (Lara) and greased up (both of us) ready for the paddling pool. A great time was had by all, (most) toys are shared freely amongst the kids, the water is clear and cool, and the deepest is just over Lara’s knees so it’s not at all intimidating for the little ones.
Interestingly, I counted only 4 hats on kids from about 100-150 in the total pool enclosure (there weren’t that many kids in the pool!). And Lara was the only child with sunglasses!
Lara in Vondel Park
We had a good think about where to go on holidays this year, we thought about the practicalities of taking a 2 year old abroad, and how we should probably avoid places with swimming pools. How we have a dog and we want to bring him with us. But we ended up throwing all thought out of the window and going on a Canal Boat Holiday in France, á la Rick Stein. We’d get great food and we could see my folks too!
http://www.markandlucie.com/Video/10/Canal Boat Holiday_JUN10.flv
QuickTime version you can download (Dad, this is for you)
Note: This video is also up on YouTube in HD 720, but thanks to extremely restrictive copyright laws, the audio track has been disabled and I can’t face going back and recutting the video to another piece of music. If you have Van Morrison ‘Caravan’ from the Moondance album, hit play the YouTube version at the same time and it’ll work. Here’s the Spotify link.
Second Note: I’d link to buy the track, but Van Morrisons website is down, the Official Exile Films YouTube Channel is down and I can’t find anywhere online to link to so you can buy his music!
Click on the picture to see the rest
Top tip when driving through France, pick up the Alastair Sawday Guide to French Bed and Breakfasts (or his Chateau Guide if you’re feeling flush), we stayed in another gem; La Quincy near Laon. Stunning house, freindly family and Raspberry and Pear with custard tart to die for! Just make sure you book up in advance, none of these places are particularly big so if you don’t, you might end up staying in a Mercure Hotel in a Business Park.
Lara and Lucie at La Quincy in 2010
Lucie at La Quincy December 2007
A 18 hour day for Lucie thanks to Mac whining at 6.15am. Friends arrived on the dot of three, Lara didn’t wake until half past. I hate to complain about the weather, but not only was it too hot to eat the plates of sandwiches, it was too hot to even drink properly! Did some nice iced coffees though 
Lovely day, Lara got some great pressies including an England World Cup strip from Uncle Steve.
Click on the picture for more.
I wanted to stay in bed and Lara wanted to watch “Boy Dog” today, but Lucie convinced us to go out. We cycled to the Bos and fed the goats…
This Wednesday was a day off for us in Holland so the family trotted off to Amsterdams Bos. (The forest). More Lucie’s idea than mine, she thinks fresh air is good and I like Fallout 3 on the PlayStation.
Plan was to go to the Pancake House, cos we all like that. But Mac decided rolling on fox poo would be more fun.
I had to throw him in the boating lake 6 times to get rid of it, but the smell took a lot longer.
